Pelargonium plant named &#39;KLEPZ11276&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  pelargonium  named ‘KLEPZ11276’, particularly characterized by red-purple flowers with orange centers, good branching, medium early flowering time, healthy and strong growth habit, and leaves with zonation, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Pelargonium zonale

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEPZ11276’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofpelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘KLEPZ11276’. The new variety is theresult of a controlled cross conducted in June 2006 in Nairobi, Kenyabetween the female pelargonium parent, ‘KLEGANY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.9,110), and the male pelargonium parent, ‘P 1101’ (unpatented). A singleplant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation andasexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings inSeptember 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproducedrepeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany forapproximately 6 to 8 generations. ‘KLEPZ11276’ has been found to retainits distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagationsvia vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in thefollowing countries: Switzerland on Jul. 4, 2011, the European Union onJul. 8, 2011, and Norway on Aug. 5, 2011. ‘KLEPZ11276’ has not been madepublicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Red-purple flowers with orange centers, good branching;

2. Medium early flowering time;

3. Healthy and strong growth habit; and

4. Leaves with zonation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new pelargonium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant. The colors shown areas true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures. The photograph is of a 3-month old plant taken in earlyspring 2011 grown from a rooted cutting in a 12 centimeter pot in aglass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany under conditions whichapproximate those generally used in normal horticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPZ11276’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken on 3-month old,un-pinched plants grown in 12 centimeter pots in a glass greenhouse inStuttgart, Germany. The color readings were determined under naturallight. Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Geraniaceae.        -   Species.—Pelargonium zonale.        -   Common name.—Pelargonium (Geranium).        -   Denomination.—‘KLEPZ11276’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Geranium named ‘KLEGANY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            9,110).        -   Male parent.—Pelargonium plant named ‘P 1101’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Strong and upright.        -   Height to the top of the umbels.—25.0 cm to 35.0 cm.        -   Spread.—28.0 cm.        -   Life cycle.—Spring to autumn.        -   Form.—Round, bushy.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—18 days.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—Approximately 84 days.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—12 days.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem color.—RHS 137D.        -   Pubescence.—Present, very short.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS 155C.        -   Stem form.—Upright, erect.        -   Diameter.—0.6 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Length.—4.0 cm to 10.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Apex.—Round.        -   Base.—Open.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Surface texture (both surfaces).—Dull.        -   Length.—5.0 cm to 6.0 cm.        -   Width.—6.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A Lower surface: RHS 137C.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Surface pubescence.—Present, very short.        -   Surface pubescence color.—RHS 155C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 6.0 cm to 8.0 cm Diameter: 0.15 cm Color:            RHS 137C.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Venation color (both surfaces).—RHS 137D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.        -   Umbels.—Length: 12.0 cm Diameter: 14.0 cm.        -   Individual florets of the umbel.—Depth: 2.0 cm Diameter: 3.0            cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Flowers per umbel.—4.        -   Umbels per plant.—4.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Cluster shape.—Round.        -   Cluster size.—Length: 2.0 cm to 4.0 cm Width: 2.0 cm to 4.0            cm Buds per cluster: 12 to 25.        -   Bud.—Length: 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm to 0.6 cm            Shape: Ovate Apex: Acute Base: Obtuse Margin: Plane Color:            RHS 137B.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—6 to 8.        -   Shape.—Spatulate.        -   Apex.—Round, entire.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.0 cm.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color of lobes.—Upper lobes: Upper surface: RHS N66A Lower            surface: RHS N66B Lower lobes: Upper surface: RHS 67B Lower            surface: RHS N67C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137C Lower surface: RHS 137C and            RHS 137D.        -   Length.—0.5 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137D.        -   Texture.—Slightly rough.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—12.0 cm to 15.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137C.        -   Texture.—Slightly rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Moderate Anther length: 0.4 cm            Filament length: 0.6 cm Filament color: RHS 155D Pollen            amount: Moderate Pollen color: RHS 41C.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1 Stigma color: RHS 73C Style            length: 0.4 cm Style color: RHS 155D Ovary arrangement:            Single, upright Ovary color: RHS 140D.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No particular resistance    observed.-   Comparision with parental and commercial varieties: ‘KLEPZ11276’    differs from the female parent ‘KLEGANY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,110)    in that ‘KLEPZ11276’ has a medium strong growth habit, red-purple    flowers with orange centers, and medium green leaves with zonation,    whereas ‘KLEGANY’ has a stronger growth habit, pink flowers with an    eye, and light green leaves without zonation. ‘KLEPZ11276’ differs    from the male parent ‘P 1101’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEPZ11276’ has    red-purple flowers with orange centers and medium green leaves with    zonation, whereas ‘P 1101’ has purple flowers with an eye and light    green leaves without zonation. ‘KLEPZ11276’ differs from the    commercial variety ‘Arcona 2000’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEPZ11276’    has a strong growth habit, red-purple flowers with orange centers,    and leaves with zonation, whereas ‘Arcona 2000’ has a medium growth    habit, purple-red flowers, and leaves with weak zonation.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of pelargonium plant named‘KLEPZ11276’ as shown and described herein.